Published: Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 11:08 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 11:08 a.m.

HOUMA — It took 64 stitches to close wounds to a 4-year-old boy’s head and face after he was mauled by a neighbor’s pit bull Tuesday in Houma, police said.

The dog grabbed Christian Silver, 120 Westwood Drive, after the boy stuck his head through a fence while talking to another child at a neighbor’s house, the family said. Jonathan Verdin, 118 Westwood Drive, owns the dog, police said. Christian was taken to Terrebonne General Medical Center where he received 34 stitches on his face and head, and an additional 30 interior stitches.

The Terrebonne Sheriff’s Office said no charges have been filed because the attack happened in the owner’s yard. It is now a civil matter, but the dog was picked up by Animal Control, police said.

Verdin’s dogs frequently destroyed the wooden fence separating their yards, said Leah Silver, Christian’s mother. Still, the dogs had never harmed anyone in the family before this week.

No one could be reached at Verdin’s home this morning, despite multiple attempts.

The Silvers said they were shaken by the attack.

“Nothing can prepare you for this,” Leah said.

Chad Silver, Christian’s father, said he delivered his son to doctors, getting to the hospital in less than five minutes. He said he did so because he felt it would take too long for an ambulance to reach them at 5 p.m.

“I was holding it and putting pressure on it,” Chad Silver said of the wound. “I kept telling him ‘I love you,’ and he kept saying it back.”

Still Christian didn’t cry until he saw his mom in the hospital.

“I immediately broke down,” Leah Silver said. “His head is so small, and then you have a pit-bull attack.”

Christian still doesn’t know how bad the injuries are, though he wasn’t complaining of any pain Wednesday. Christian’s family hasn’t allowed him to look in the mirror. Chad and Leah, both 33, have been forcing him to sit still so no blood seeps through the stitches, which start at his forehead and extend to the top of his nose.

<p>HOUMA — It took 64 stitches to close wounds to a 4-year-old boy's head and face after he was mauled by a neighbor's pit bull Tuesday in Houma, police said. </p><p>The dog grabbed Christian Silver, 120 Westwood Drive, after the boy stuck his head through a fence while talking to another child at a neighbor's house, the family said. Jonathan Verdin, 118 Westwood Drive, owns the dog, police said. Christian was taken to Terrebonne General Medical Center where he received 34 stitches on his face and head, and an additional 30 interior stitches.</p><p>The Terrebonne Sheriff's Office said no charges have been filed because the attack happened in the owner's yard. It is now a civil matter, but the dog was picked up by Animal Control, police said.</p><p>Verdin's dogs frequently destroyed the wooden fence separating their yards, said Leah Silver, Christian's mother. Still, the dogs had never harmed anyone in the family before this week.</p><p>No one could be reached at Verdin's home this morning, despite multiple attempts.</p><p>The Silvers said they were shaken by the attack.</p><p>“Nothing can prepare you for this,” Leah said.</p><p>Chad Silver, Christian's father, said he delivered his son to doctors, getting to the hospital in less than five minutes. He said he did so because he felt it would take too long for an ambulance to reach them at 5 p.m.</p><p>“I was holding it and putting pressure on it,” Chad Silver said of the wound. “I kept telling him 'I love you,' and he kept saying it back.”</p><p>Still Christian didn't cry until he saw his mom in the hospital. </p><p>“I immediately broke down,” Leah Silver said. “His head is so small, and then you have a pit-bull attack.”</p><p>Christian still doesn't know how bad the injuries are, though he wasn't complaining of any pain Wednesday. Christian's family hasn't allowed him to look in the mirror. Chad and Leah, both 33, have been forcing him to sit still so no blood seeps through the stitches, which start at his forehead and extend to the top of his nose.</p><p>“He just kept saying, 'I want a big Band-Aid. I want my face back,' ” Leah Silver said. “He's more worried than anything, but he's a strong little boy.”</p><p>The family is going to meet with a plastic surgeon later this week.</p><p>Leah said she heard the dog was going to be killed. The Silvers own two dogs of their own — a Labrador and a Chihuahua —but Leah said if dogs are dangerous, action must be taken.</p><p>“I hate to have it put to sleep, but look what my son has to live with,” Leah said. “If I had a pit bull, I'd try to make sure it was secure.”</p><p>Still, it could have been much worse, she said.</p><p>“As long as he's here with me, I can deal with a little scar,” Leah said. “He's had a smile on all day.”</p><p>And despite the ordeal, Christian said he is not afraid of all dogs.</p><p>“I don't like pit bulls,” Christian said.</p><p>Staff Writer Eric Heisig can be reached at 857-2202 or eric.heisig@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @TerrebonneCrime.</p>